Source: Astros agree with Scott Feldman on three-year deal

They checked a center fielder off the list and now they’ve got a veteran starting pitcher, too. All before the winter meetings.

The Astros have agreed to terms with right-handed starting pitcher Scott Feldman on a three-year, $30 million deal, pending a physical, a baseball source confirmed to the Chronicle on Friday.

A longtime Rangers pitcher who turns 31 in February, Feldman should be expected to lead a rotation that’s otherwise to be filled with youngsters: Jarred Cosart, Brett Oberholtzer and Dallas Keuchel.

The Feldman news comes just three days after the Astros and Rockies made the trade that brought center fielder Dexter Fowler to Houston. The winter meetings, which begin Monday in Orlando, Fla., are traditionally when baseball’s hot stove season hits high gear. But the Astros have already spent about $17.35 million of the roughly $30 million they can add in payroll for 2014, assuming the money in Feldman’s deal is to be distributed evenly.

“We have several conversations ongoing both regarding trades as well as signings,” Luhnow said Thursday night. “I just feel like there’s less of an, ‘OK, let’s wait ’til we get to the winter meetings,’ than there has been in the past. It’s part due to the fact that tonight, even, we’re still getting some signings reported. I think there’s less of that mentality — ‘Oh, we’re only a few days away, why don’t we wait and shelve it ’til we get there?’”

Feldman spent his first eight seasons with the Rangers, from 2005-12. He began last season with the Cubs and ended it with the Orioles, going a combined 12-12 with a 3.86 ERA, 132 strikeouts and 56 walks in 181 2/3 innings. Lifetime, Feldman is 51-56 with a 4.62 ERA in 909 1/3 regular-season innings.

Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow declined to comment. FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal was first to report the news.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Rick Ankiel
New York Mets
Position: Outfielder
Season with Astros: 2013

Rick Ankiel
New York Mets
Position: Outfielder
Season with Astros: 2013